GOLDEN BOY….Derry’s Jason Smyth wins 100m sprint final in a time of 10.64 seconds
JASON Smyth, the fastest athlete in Paralympic history, is to honoured with a civic reception in Derry after his gold medal success at the Rio 2016 games.
Described as the Usain Bolt of the Paralympic Games in Brazil, the 29-year-old sprinter from Eglinton notched up another gold medal after winning the 100m in Brazil.
Jason blazed across the finishing line in just 10.64 seconds – his fifth gold medal since Beijing.
The proud dad is due back in Eglinton this Saturday, September 24, where a welcome home event has been organised.
Jane Davidson, chairwoman of the Eglinton Annual Show, said: “The committee has planned a reception and a run from his old primary school in Eglinton to the community centre in Main Street.
“We have asked pupils and past pupils of Eglinton and Broadbridge Primary schools to assemble around 1.45pm ready to go off with Jason at 2pm and accompany.
“We hope he will not run at quite the pace he did in Rio or no one will be able to keep up with him.”
The proposal for a civic reception was made by SDLP councillor Martin Reilly.
He described Jason’s sporting achievement as “immense”.
He added: “When Jason won double gold in the 2012 London Games, building on his earlier similar success in Beijing in 2008, there were great celebrations in his home village of Eglinton.
“I proposed that we honour him again when he returns from these Games in Rio as his contribution to sport in this city and further afield continues to be immense and inspirational.
“Jason has won the same number of gold medals as Usain Bolt, but has been given nowhere near the same level of recognition.
“I’m glad to say that all councillors agreed to this proposal and council officers will now engage with Jason, his family and the community in Eglinton to finalise plans.”
The civic reception will be held in Derry’s Guildhall, organised by the council on a date yet to be arranged.
The whole of Derry is very proud of Jason’s achievements over the last eight years.
He could have matched his double gold success from Beijing and London in Rio had the International Paralympic Committee not opted to remove the 200m from the events table.
Jason still cemented his status as the fastest disabled runner of all time.
He has only 10% vision because of a genetic condition called Stargardt disease.
Following his success in the London games in 2012, a letterbox in his home village was painted gold in his honour.
This weekend, the streets could be paved with gold to welcome him home.
Jason Smyth with his gold medal from London 2012
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